Thoughts--Summer Olympics

[Ziploc]

I've been trying to keep up with the Olympics, but I've found it tough to catch the events I really want to see. My viewing has been pretty much limited to NBC's coverage 8 - midnite EST. You never know what time they're going to show what event, and the prime stuff usually airs so late that I can't stay awake to see it. Anybody else having this problem? If NBC were broadcasting live, I could understand some of the jumping around and uncertainty. But since the material is taped, I wish NBC wouldn't be as coy about the schedule for what they'll be showing that evening.

I've been trying to catch Michael Phelps in his quest for the medals, men's and women's gymnastic finals, basketball or volleyball featuring the American team, etc. .....but no luck. Seems like every time I check in, preliminary or semi-final heats of swimming or synchronized diving are showing endlessly. I enjoyed seeing the extended celebration of the two Greek synchronized divers who won the gold medal, but once in the evening was enough. I'd have rather seen one of the key events I was waiting for than watch the Greeks celebrating for the second time that evening.

Also, am I the only one BEYOND irritated at that one commercial that airs constantly for Sony....where the hordes outside the apt. of the poor guy trying to view his widescreen TV want to join him, noting they can bring chips AND SALSA? SHEEESH, give it a BREAK! On the other hand, the Sony-sponsored high-definition aerial views of Greek land- and sea-scapes and the Acropolis are spectacular, even though I'm beginning to wish we could see a few new scenes there as well.

[tim.s]

NBC shows events all day long (four different channels I think), but I also find it hard to find out what's on when.

Originally posted by Ziploc
...On the other hand, the Sony-sponsored high-definition aerial views of Greek land- and sea-scapes and the Acropolis are spectacular, even though I'm beginning to wish we could see a few new scenes there as well.

Maybe they ran out of aerial shots people would recognize.

[Ziploc]

Originally posted by tim.s
NBC shows events all day long (four different channels I think), but I also find it hard to find out what's on when.Maybe they ran out of aerial shots people would recognize.

From what others have said, there seems to be a greater variety of events (other than just swimming, diving, and gymnastics) shown earlier in the day....and on channels other than NBC. But, I'm a working stiff and am only home during the 8 to midnite coverage on the main NBC channel.

If there was an event I absolutely wanted to see earlier in the day, and I knew what time/channel it would be on, I could set up the VCR. (But, truth be told, our VCR produces such crappy images, compared to the digital/HD we've become accustomed to, that we rarely use it anymore.)

[Jet-Pilot-64]

Not to mention that the HD programming is delayed by a day. You'd think they'd air their main broadcasts "in HD" rather than a day late (and a dollar short).

[PNW-Pilot]

NBC is doing a terrible job. I thinnk this is the worst yet. I was watching the Iraqi soccer game. Right as they were going down the field, I was pretty sure they would score a commercial... Helloooo. Stupid NBC, they show most of the good things on the "cable" channels, msncb, cnbc bravo, etc... I gave up and switched to a Canadian channel much better coverage, those I have to watch coverage mostly of the Canada teams. Oh well, it's over soon.

[Bill Balmer]

Originally posted by Jet-Pilot-64
Not to mention that the HD programming is delayed by a day. You'd think they'd air their main broadcasts "in HD" rather than a day late (and a dollar short).

YES! This has been my greatest disappointment with the coverage. I love the HD scenery shots, and watching the events in HD is a treat, but every time I turn on the HD coverage, they're showing the same thing I watched on NBC the night before! If they're just going to double up on covering the same events, at least they could do it at the same time. Plus, although the images are better in HD, the few helpful graphics NBC has (such as the super-imposed flag in the water showing who touched the wall first in swimming) are completely missing from the HD broadcasts.

[Ziploc]

Originally posted by PNW-Pilot
NBC is doing a terrible job. I thinnk this is the worst yet. ~snip~ I gave up and switched to a Canadian channel much better coverage, those I have to watch coverage mostly of the Canada teams.

Yes, it seems to be the consensus that NBC's broadcasts and commentators have been very disappointing. Most of the folks I've talked to who are following the Olympics at all are catching events they're interested in largely by chance on various cable channels at odd times of day. One of my co-workers said she's found the best coverage of the best variety of events on one of the cable channels (bravo, I think).....she tunes in at 5:00 a.m. while she's getting her kids ready for day care.

[Jet-Pilot-64]

Originally posted by Bill Balmer


... Plus, although the images are better in HD, the few helpful graphics NBC has (such as the super-imposed flag in the water showing who touched the wall first in swimming) are completely missing from the HD broadcasts.

Really, I hadn't noticed that. Very interesting! What kind of HDTV do you have and what cable or satellite provider? I have a Sony XBR 960 Direct view TV

[Ziploc]

Originally posted by Jet-Pilot-64
Really, I hadn't noticed that. Very interesting! What kind of HDTV do you have and what cable or satellite provider? I have a Sony XBR 960 Direct view TV

I didn't even know I was missing anything until seeing Bill Balmer's post.

Don't recall model number off top of my head, but I have a Panasonic 47" rear-projection CRT HD-ready monitor and Comcast digital cable service.

[tim.s]

Originally posted by Ziploc
I didn't even know I was missing anything until seeing Bill Balmer's post.

Don't recall model number off top of my head, but I have a Panasonic 47" rear-projection CRT HD-ready monitor and Comcast digital cable service.

I don't think the brand of HDTV would matter. The superimposed images would be on feed for the channel. If they are not showing up, they were probably never added to the HD broadcast.

[jay]

My thoughts on the Oympics, it's as good a background noise as any. I personally lost interest in the Olympics years ago. NBC coverage has sucked for many many years, regardless of timezone issues.

[Ziploc]

After reading some of the posts in this thread, and talking with co-workers, I finally realized (duh ! ) that the coverage on the NBC digital channel--in HD--was entirely different from what's being shown on the regular NBC channel.

I had been viewing only the programming in HD, and couldn't understand why others seemed to be seeing stuff that I was missing. For whatever reason, the HD broadcast (thus far) has been showing almost nothing except swimming (including all the preliminary heats, which tend to get boring fast), synchronized diving, and some (but not all) gymnastics. When I finally switched over to the regular NBC channel, I saw that the coverage was much more varied and included much more of the medal events. And I finally saw the graphics others had mentioned (such as the superimposed flags on the swimming lanes, and the line indicating world record pace).

Not that NBC is doing a great job--I still think the coverage could be better. Just making the point that NBC's HD channel coverage is totally different, and of a more limited scope, than what's being shown on the regular NBC channel.

[Ziploc]

Originally posted by jay
My thoughts on the Oympics, it's as good a background noise as any. I personally lost interest in the Olympics years ago. NBC coverage has sucked for many many years, regardless of timezone issues.

From the number of empty seats at most of the events, it would seem that many of the Greeks--and other would-be attendees--agree with you.

[Jet-Pilot-64]

Originally posted by tim.s
I don't think the brand of HDTV would matter. The superimposed images would be on feed for the channel. If they are not showing up, they were probably never added to the HD broadcast.

I know the brand doesn't matter, I was just interested in what HDTV's people have.

[PNW-Pilot]

Originally posted by Jet-Pilot-64
I know the brand doesn't matter, I was just interested in what HDTV's people have.

Therwas another thread in FLPilot or Florida_guy were going to buy a HDTV. I believe we discussed there what brand we own.

Yea. The interest in the Olympics has waned, the last good attendance years I can remember is 1984. It's boring to me now, they need to bring in more sports for competing, and get rid of the old ones that nobody cares for anymore.

I too am interested in background noise, my wife however watches just the opening ceremonies.